Lid device and glove box device for vehicle equipped with it

ABSTRACT

A lid apparatus including a tubular frame mounted to an interior member of a vehicle at a periphery of an opening which is defined in a wall surface of the interior member; a lid that covers the opening; a hinge that joins the lid to the frame; a securing device which secures the frame to an inner periphery of the opening; and a positioning piece which is continuously formed with respect to the frame wall and which abuts against the interior member at a peripheral edge of the opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lid apparatus for a glove box of avehicle and a glove box of the vehicle including such a lid apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,461 discloses a glove box apparatus for a vehicle.

The glove box apparatus includes a lid mounting frame, which attaches alid apparatus to the vehicle's instrument panel, secured to a frontsurface of the instrument panel by screws. Therefore, relatively manyscrews are needed to assemble and secure the glove box apparatus. Also,a relatively high level of skill is needed to accurately locate the lidmounting frame at a certain position of the interior member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-noted circumstances, it is a purpose of the presentinvention to provide a lid apparatus that can accurately and easily bedisposed with a lid mounting frame at a certain position of an interiormember of a vehicle while reducing the number of joint members and aglove box for a vehicle including such a lid apparatus.

The lid apparatus which achieves the purpose of the present inventionincludes a tubular lid mounting frame, a lid, a hinge which supports thelid so that the lid can be opened and closed with respect to a side ofthe lid mounting frame, a lock means which can keep the lid in a closedstate, and a positioning piece which is continuously connected to thelid mounting frame, and which abuts against a wall surface of aninterior member. The lid apparatus is mounted to cover and close anopening provided on a wall surface of an interior member provided in thevehicle.

The lid mounting frame has a shape which can abut against the opening atan inner peripheral surface of the opening.

The positioning piece has a shape which can abut against the interiormember at a peripheral edge of the opening.

At the time when the lid apparatus of this invention is mounted to theinterior member of the vehicle, the certain position for the lidapparatus is ensured to just abut against the interior member at theperiphery of the opening.

Then, the properly positioned lid mounting frame is fitted secured tothe interior member using securing means, e.g., screws.

Therefore, the lid apparatus of the present invention is easier toassemble compared to conventional lids.

It is preferable that the hinge is mounted to the positioning piece.

In addition to positioning the lid mounting frame of the lid apparatus,the positioning piece also supports the hinge, thereby simplifying thestructure.

Moreover, when the positioning piece is secured, via the hinge, togetherwith the securing means, the number of securing means needed is reduced.

The aforementioned glove box forms a hollow, box-like shape in the wallof an instrument panel provided in the vehicle, and the lid apparatusmay be secured to a periphery of an opening of the glove box. Also, thelid apparatus is secured thereto by a relatively small number ofsecuring means, thereby making it easier to assemble the glove box ofthe present invention.

Additionally, a part of the lid is extended to cover the hinge from viewwhen the lid apparatus is in a closed state.

The extended part of the lid improves the appearance of the glove boxprovided on the instrument panel.

It is also preferable that the glove box apparatus includes, a sealmember, which is brought into tight contact with the lid in the closedstate, that is provided on the frame so as to be disposed between theframe and the lid.

Also, a preload is applied to the seal by a compression repulsive forcethereof, thereby preventing chattering or rattling of the lid.Additionally, when the lid is opened, the securing means is covered bythe seal member and not seen from outside of the opening, therebyimproving appearance.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description of apreferred embodiment with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a truck according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the truck in FIG. 1 with essential portions ofa vehicle body removed.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a front portion of the truck in FIG. 1 with afront hood opened.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a rear portion of the truck in FIG. 1 in adumping state of a loading platform.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the loading platform.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a load securing tool and itssurroundings of the loading platform.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a lock device of the loading platform.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a side of an instrument panel in a cabinof the truck in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in FIG.9 showing a glove box device in the instrument panel.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an opened state of the glove boxdevice.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the glove box device.

FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 12 showing another embodiment ofa glove box device.

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view showing the cabin and itssurroundings of the truck in FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 15 in FIG. 14 showinga roof of the cap.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 16-16 in FIG.15.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 17-17 in FIG.15.

FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of the truck showing a protectionscreen and its surroundings in a rear portion of the cabin.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 18-18 in FIG.18.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the loading platform of thetruck in FIG. 1 and a luggage box mounted to the loading platform.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 21-21 in FIG.20 showing a mounting structure of the luggage box to the loadingplatform.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line 22-22 in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 23-23 in FIG.20.

FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of a console bag and itssurroundings in the cabin.

FIG. 25 is a rear perspective view of the console bag and itssurroundings.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 26-26 in FIG.25.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 27-27 in FIG.25.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 28-28 in FIG.9 showing a mounting structure of a floor mat in the cabin.

FIG. 29 is a rear perspective view of a mudguard plate for a rear wheeland its surroundings of the truck in FIG. 1.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 30-30 in FIG.29.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a multipurpose truck. Thetruck 10 includes a pair of left and right front wheels 13 and 13suspended in a front portion of a vehicle body 11 by a front suspension12, and a pair of left and right rear wheels 15 suspended in a rearportion of the vehicle body 11 by a rear suspension 14. To each wheel, alow pressure type tire called a balloon tire is mounted. In a middleportion of the vehicle body 11, a cabin 17 with a roof 16 is formed.

In the cabin 17, a pair of left and right occupant seats 18 a and 18 b,and a steering wheel 19 facing one driver seat 18 a are provided, andthe steering wheel 19 is steerably joined to the front wheels 13 via asteering mechanism 20. Below the left and right seats 18 a and 18 b, apower unit 21 including an engine is mounted in a frame 11F of thevehicle body 11, and power of the power unit 21 is transmitted to therear wheels 15 via a propeller shaft 22 and a differential gear 23.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the front portion of the vehicle body 11,a housing box 25 is mounted that houses tools or other small articlesplaced in a space around the steering mechanism 20. A front hood 26covering the housing box 25, the steering mechanism 20, and the frontwheels 13 from above is openably and closably connected to the frame 11Fof the vehicle body 11 via a pivot 27.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, immediately above the rear wheels 15, aloading platform 30 is provided behind and adjacent to the cabin 17. Theloading platform 30 is a box-shaped type including an openable andclosable rear gate 30 c, and is mounted to the vehicle body 11 so as tobe dumpable. Specifically, the loading platform 30 includes a loadingplatform frame 30F extending in a front and rear direction of the truck10 on a lower surface, and a rear portion of the loading platform frame30F is joined to a rear end of the frame 11F of the vehicle body 11 viaa pivot axis 31 so as to be dumpable. Thus, the loading platform 30 canpivot around the pivot axis 31 between a normal position where theloading platform 30 is horizontally supported on the frame 11F of thevehicle body 11 and a dump position where the loading platform 30 isinclined upward to a front.

At upper left and right corners in a front wall 30 b of the loadingplatform 30, arcuate grips 33 used for a manual dump operation of theloading platform 30 are formed. Thus, a sufficient distance can beensured between the pivot axis 31 and the grips 33. Therefore, when auser standing on one lateral side of the loading platform 30 grips andpulls up the grip 33 on the same side for dumping the loading platform30, the user can dump the loading platform 30 with a relatively smallpulling force.

Between the loading platform and the vehicle body 11, an auxiliarydumper 32 for assisting the dump operation of the loading platform 30 ismounted. In a lower portion at a front end of the loading platform 30, amanual lock device 34 is provided that can lock the loading platform 30to the vehicle body 11 in the horizontal normal position.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 8, the lock device 34 includes a lever shaft56 rotatably supported by a bearing member 55 secured to a lower surfaceof the loading platform frame 30F and extending in a laterallyhorizontal direction, and a lock pawl 57 secured integrally with thelever shaft 56, and operating levers 56 a that can pivot between a lockposition A and an unlock position B described later are formed at leftand right ends of the lever shaft 56. The lock pawl 57 includes a bossportion 57 a fitted and secured to the lever shaft 56, first and secondstopper arms 57 b and 57 c radially protruding from the boss portion 57a, and a pawl portion 57 d. The first and second stopper arms 57 b and57 c abut against the lower surface of the loading platform frame 30F toregulate the lock position A and the unlock position B, respectively, ofthe operating lever 56 a. When the operating lever 56 a is in the lockposition A, the pawl portion 57 d engages a lower surface of a retainingportion 54 formed in the loading platform frame 30F to hold the loadingplatform 30 in the horizontal normal position. When the operating lever56 a is in the unlock position B, the pawl portion 57 d is disengagedfrom the retaining portion 54. To an outer periphery of the lever shaft56, a lock spring 58 that biases the lock pawl 57 toward the lockposition A of the operating lever 56 a and that is formed by a torsioncoil spring is mounted. Thus, in dumping the loading platform 30, one ofthe left and right operating levers 56 a is pivoted to the unlockposition B to disengage the lock pawl 57 from the retaining portion 54.

A slope portion 59 is formed on a back surface of the pawl portion 57 d.If the operating lever 56 a is in the lock position A when the loadingplatform 30 is returned from the dump position to the normal position,the slope portion 59 causes the lock pawl 57 and the operating lever 56a to pivot to the unlock position B against a biasing force of the lockspring 58 while sliding on the retaining portion 54. When the slopeportion 59 passes through the retaining portion 54, the lock pawl 57 andthe operating lever 56 a are pivoted to the lock position A by arepulsive force of the lock spring 58, and thus the loading platform 30is automatically locked in the normal position.

In FIGS. 1, 4 and 14, the vehicle body 11 includes pairs of left andright front pillars 90 and rear pillars 91 so as to surround the cabin17. The pairs of front pillars 90 and rear pillars 91 are integrallyconnected at upper ends via a pair of front and rear cross pipes 92extending in a lateral direction. A pair of lateral cross pipes 92 areconnected to each other via a pair of left and right longitudinal crosspipes 93 extending in a front and rear direction. The roof 16 is mountedto the lateral and longitudinal cross pipes 92 and 93 as describedbelow.

As shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, the roof 16 is made of synthetic resin orsteel plate, and placed on the lateral and longitudinal cross pipes 92and 93 with an upper cushion plate 95 of rubber interposed therebetween.In appropriate positions on the lateral and longitudinal cross pipes 92and 93, roof holding members 94 that fit lower half peripheries of thepipes are placed with lower cushion plates 96 interposed therebetween.The roof holding members 94 have, at opposite ends thereof, ear portions94 a protruding outward of the lateral and longitudinal cross pipes 92and 93, and each ear portion 94 a is placed to support, from below, arubber grommet 97 mounted to an appropriate position on the roof 16, anda distance collar 98 fitted in the center of the grommet 97. A washer 99is placed on an upper end of the grommet 97 and the distance collar 98,and the washer 99 and the ear portion 94 a are fastened by a bolt 100and a cap nut 101. Thus, the roof 16 is supported by the upper and lowercushion plates 95 and 96 and the grommets 97 so as to isolate vibration,and a preload is applied to the roof 16 along the lateral andlongitudinal cross pipes 92 and 93 by a compression repulsive force ofthe upper cushion plates 95, thereby preventing a flutter of the roof 16by running air or vibration. Such a support structure of the roof isparticularly effective for a roof 16 made of synthetic resin.

As clearly shown in FIG. 15, the roof 16 basically has a laterally longrectangular shape, and has recesses 102 in left and right side edges.The recesses 102 and a below described trough 103 formed along an entireperiphery of the roof 16 cooperate to increase rigidity of the roof 16particularly in the front and rear direction and improve design.

The roof 16 has a gradient (for example, 3 to 100, preferably 1.50)slightly sloping downward to a rear portion and a gradient (for example,3 to 100, preferably 50) sloping downward from the middle portion towardleft and right sides. The trough 103 is formed to extend continuouslyalong the entire periphery of the roof 16. Thus, in the trough 103, leftand right corners in the rear portion of the roof 16 are the lowest, anddrain holes 104 (see FIGS. 15 and 17) are provided in the corners. Thus,when the truck 10 is in a substantially horizontal position, rainwaterfalling on the roof 16 can be collected in the trough 103 in the entireperiphery of the roof 16, smoothly guided into the drain holes 104, anddrained to the outside of the cabin 17. Thus, the roof 16 drains well,and within the above described ranges of the gradients, design of thetruck 10 is not damaged.

In this case, the drain holes 104 are provided in an intermediateportion between the seats 18A and 18B in the cabin 17 and the loadingplatform 30, thereby preventing raindrops from the drain holes 104 fromfalling on the seats 18A and 18B or the loading platform 30 duringstopping in rain.

In FIGS. 1, 14, 18 and 19, opposite ends of a pair of left and rightU-shaped reinforcement stays 105 placed behind the left and right seats18 a and 18 b, respectively, with bent portions facing each other, arejoined to the left and right rear pillars 91 by welding. Thereinforcement stays 105 have, in portions facing each other, jointpieces 106 superposed one on another, and the joint pieces 106 arejoined to each other by bolts 107. To the reinforcement stays 105 andthe rear pillars 91, a protection screen 108 that covers a rear surfaceof the cabin 17 is mounted.

The protection screen 108 includes a rectangular upper screen 108Ahaving a width substantially the same as that of the loading platform 30and placed above the loading platform 30, and a lower screen 108Bcontinuously connected to a lower end of the upper screen 108A. Theupper screen 108A includes a screen frame 108 a that forms a rectangularoutline and a mesh member 108 b made of metal mesh and attached to thescreen frame 108 a.

The lower screen 108B includes a pair of left and right skirt plates 108c made of metal, for example, aluminum alloy and secured to a lowerportion of the screen frame 108 a. The skirt plates 108 c are placedbehind the left and right seats 18 a and 18 b. The screen frame 108 a issecured, at left and right sides, to the left and right rear pillars 91via brackets 109, and secured, at a lower middle portion, to the jointpiece 106, that is, below the reinforcement stay via a bracket 111. Theleft and right skirt plates 108 c are secured, at lower end portionsrespectively, to lower portions of the left and right reinforcementstays 105 via metal bands 110. The protection screen 108 thus configuredcan prevent a load on the loading platform 30 from entering the cabin17, and simultaneously the mesh member 108 b can ensure a rearwardvisibility from the cabin 17.

In the above described configuration, a total width of the left andright skirt plates 108 c is smaller than that of the screen frame 108 a,and thus a cut-out space 113 that does not interfere with a trail 112(see FIGS. 4 and 19) of the grip 33 in the dump operation of the loadingplatform 30 are provided below left and right ends of the screen frame108 a.

Thus, the grip 33 and also a user's hand gripping the grip 33 can easilypass through the space 113 in the dump operation of the loading platform30 by gripping the grip 33, thereby easily avoiding interference withthe protection screen 108. Further, the space 113 is formed by the totalwidth of the left and right skirt plates 108 c being smaller than thewidth of the screen frame 108 a, and thus the space 113 can be easilyformed without forming a special cut-out in the protection screen 108.

The screen frame 108 a is placed substantially immediately above thefront wall 30 b of the loading platform 30, and the skirt plates 108 care placed to be tilted forward at lower portions along sloping backsurfaces of seat backs 18 a′ and 18 b′ of the seats 18 a and 18 bprovided in the cabin 17 (see FIGS. 4 and 19). With this configuration,a sufficient distance L between the front wall 30 b of the loadingplatform 30 and the skirt plates 108 c can be sufficiently ensured whilean effective volume of the cabin 17 is increased, thereby reliablyavoiding interference between the front wall 30 b of the loadingplatform 30 and the skirt plates 108 c in the dump operation of theloading platform 30.

Further, the left and right skirt plates 108 c are configured to coverthe seat backs 18 a′ and 18 b′ of the left and right seats 18 a and 18 bprovided in the cabin 17 over the entire widths (see FIG. 14). With thisconfiguration, the skirt plates 108 c can reliably avoid a luggage frommoving from the loading platform 30 to the seat backs 18 a′ and 18 b′while ensuring the space 113.

As shown in FIG. 5, a floor 30 a of the loading platform 30 is made ofsynthetic resin, and has a plurality of ribs 37, 37 . . . extending inthe front and rear direction of the truck 10. On the floor 30 a, a pairof front and rear load securing tools 38 and 38; 38 and 38 are providedon left and right sides. As clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each loadsecuring tool 38 includes a support member 39 mounted to the floor 30 a,and a hook member 40 supported by the support member 39. The supportmember 39 includes a base 39 a, and a boss portion 39 b continuouslyconnected to one end of the base 39 a. The hook member 40 is formed of aD-ring, and a straight shaft 40 a thereof is rotatably supported by theboss portion 39 b. At this time, between the shaft 40 a and the bossportion 39 b, friction is applied such that the hook member 40 can beheld in a horizontal position, any tilted position, and a standingposition.

The bases 39 a of the support members 39 are placed so that the bossportions 39 b of the left and right load securing tools 38 face eachother, and secured to the floor 30 a by bolts 42. At this time, eachbase 39 a is held between a pair of front and rear positioning pieces 43and 43 welded to the floor 30 a and prevented from rotating around thebolt 42 and vibrating in a disordered manner. Thus, the base 39 a can bereliably secured to the floor 30 a only by single bolt 42. The bolt 42is screwed into a support cylinder 52 secured to the loading platformframe 30F and having an upper end facing the upper surface of the floor30 a of the loading platform 30 and is tightly fastened.

On the upper surface of the floor 30 a, a pair of bumps 44 and 45 thatare arranged in the axial direction of the boss portion 39 b of the loadsecuring tool 38 with the load securing tool 38 therebetween are formed.When a load on the floor 30 a is placed immediately above the loadsecuring tool 38, the bumps 44 and 45 receive the load and preventinterference between the load and the load securing tool 38.

As shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, a luggage box 115 is mounted to one lateralside of the floor 30 a of the loading platform 30 as required. Formounting the luggage box 115, the bolts 42 and the support cylinders 52are used for mounting the pair of front and rear load securing tools 38and 38 on one side of the loading platform 30. Specifically, the bolts42 are removed from the support cylinders 52 to remove the front andrear load securing tools 38 and 38, then horizontal portions 116 a ofL-shaped joint seats 116 are secured to the support cylinders 52 by thebolts 42, and vertical portions 116 b of the joint seats 116 are securedto an outer side wall 115 a of the luggage box 115 by bolts 117 and capnuts 118. A bottom wall 115 b of the luggage box 115 is secured to theloading platform frame 30F by a plurality of bolts 122. Specifically, aholding plate 120 including welding nuts 121 at opposite ends is placedbeneath the lower surface of the loading platform frame 30F, and thebolt 122 passing through the bottom wall 115 b of the luggage box 115and the floor 30 a is screwed into the welding nut 121 and tightlyfastened, and thus the luggage box 115 is secured to the loadingplatform frame 30F. At this time, to an outer periphery of the bolt 122,a distance collar 123 that controls fastening of the bolt 122 is fitted,and an upper end of the distance collar 123 passes through the bottomwall 115 b of the luggage box 115 and abuts against a washer at a headportion of the bolt 122. Thus, the outer side wall 115 a and the bottomwall 115 b of the luggage box 115 are secured to the loading platform30, and thus the luggage box 115 can obtain sufficient support strengthagainst a lateral load. At a corner portion between the outer side wall115 a and the bottom wall 115 b of the luggage box 115, a chamfer 115 cis formed that avoids interference with the bumps 44 and 45 on the floor30 a and the bolt 117.

The luggage box 115 is formed of a checkered steel plate, and anirregular surface 115F of the checkered pattern is an outer wall surfaceto prevent a slip. In this case, as described above, when the bottomwall 115 b of the luggage box 115 is secured to the loading platformframe 30F by the bolts 122, an upper end of the distance collar 123around the bolt 122 is caused to pass through the bottom wall of theluggage box 115 and abut against the washer at the head portion of thebolt 122. Thus, a fastening force of the bolt 122 can be transmittedwithout passing through the irregular surface 115F of the luggage box115, thereby preventing the bolt 122 from being loosened by crushedprotrusions on the irregular surface 115F.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 23, a slide type load securing means 125 ismounted to the floor 30 a of the loading platform 30 as required. Theslide type load securing means 125 includes a plurality of hook rails126 provided between a plurality of reinforcement ribs 142 in a frontand rear direction on the upper surface of the floor 30 a, and one ormore hook members 128 slidably fitted to the hook rails 126 and securedin any slide position.

Each hook rail 126 is secured to the loading platform frame 30F, and asecuring structure thereof is basically the same as the securingstructure of the bottom wall 115 b of the luggage box 115 to the loadingplatform frame 30F except shapes and sizes of components, thus in FIG.23, components corresponding to those in the securing structure in FIG.22 are denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions of thestructure will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, in an instrument panel 60 provided in a front portion of thecabin 17, a meter unit 61, an audio unit 62, a shift lever 63, a glovebox device 64, a small article container 65, a lighting switch 66, ahorn switch 67, or the like are provided.

The glove box device 70 will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 10 to 12. The glove box device 70 includes a glove box 70integrally formed with the instrument panel 60, a lid mounting frame 71of an angularly-sectored prism shape formed so as to be fitted to aninner peripheral surface of a rectangular opening portion 70 a of theglove box 70 opening in a front surface of the instrument panel 60, anda lid 73 joined to the lid mounting frame 71 via a hinge 72 so as to beopened and closed with respect to the opening portion 70 a. The lidmounting frame 71 fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the openingportion 70 a of the glove box 70 is secured to the instrument panel 60at an upper wall 71 a and left and right side walls 71 c by one or twofirst screws 74.

A flat positioning wall 75 bending downward from a lower edge of theopening portion 70 a is formed in the instrument panel 60, and apositioning piece 76 that abuts against the positioning wall 75 iscontinuously and integrally connected to a lower wall 71 b of the lidmounting frame 71.

The hinge 72 is comprised of first and second hinge arms 72 a and 72 c,and a hinge pin 72 c that joins the first and second hinge arms 72 a and72 b rotatably relative to each other, and the first hinge arm 72 a issecured to the instrument panel 60 by a pair of second screws 77 so asto hold the positioning piece 76 between the first hinge arm 72 a andthe positioning wall 75. Thus, the lid mounting frame 71 is secured tothe instrument panel 60 by the first screws 74 and the second screws 77,and the first hinge arm 72 a of the hinge 72 is simultaneously securedby the second screws 77. The second hinge arm 72 b is secured to aninner surface of a lower end portion of the lid 73 by a plurality ofthird screws 78.

In a front surface of the lid mounting frame 71, a flange 71 d bendinginward from an upper portion and left and right sides is formed, and aseal member 79 brought into tight contact with the lid 73 in a closedstate is bonded to an area extending from the flange 71 d to thepositioning piece 76 so as to cover the second screws 77. Thus, if thelid 73 is closed and locked by lock means 80 described later, the sealmember 79 seals the opening portion 70 a of the glove box 70 to maintainsealed state, and also a preload is applied to the lid 73 by acompression repulsive force of the seal member 79, thereby preventingchatter or rattle of the lid 73. If the lid 73 is opened, the secondscrews 77 are covered with the seal member 79, and the first screws 74securing, to the instrument panel 60, the upper wall 71 a of the lidmounting frame 71 fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the openingportion 70 a of the glove box 70 are not easily seen from outside of theopening portion 70 a of the glove box 70, thereby improving appearance.

A cover portion 73 a that covers the positioning piece 76 and the hinge72 is integrally formed in the lid 73. Thus, in the closed state of thelid 73, the positioning piece 76 and the hinge 72 are hidden by thecover portion 73 a integral with the lid 73, thereby improvingappearance.

Further, the lock means 80 that can lock the lid 73 in a closed positionis provided in the lid 73. The lock means 80 is comprised of a rotaryknob 81 axis-supported on an upper portion of the lid 73, and a lid lockpawl 82 provided on a back side of the lid 73 and pivoted between a lockposition and an unlock position by the knob 81. The lid lock pawl 82engages with a retaining portion 83 continuously connected to the upperwall 71 a of the lid mounting frame 71 in the lock position and holdsthe lid 73 in the closed position.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, an auxiliary box 85 that can housedocuments or the like is provided on the back surface of the lid 73. Theauxiliary box 85 has a cup holding hole 85 a that can hold a drink cupor the like, and also serves as a cup holder with the lid 73 being usedas a bottom wall when the lid 73 is horizontally opened. To restrict ahorizontally opened position of the lid 73, opposite ends of stopperstraps 89 are secured by screws between the left and right side walls 71c of the lid mounting frame 71 and the left and right sides of the lid73. At this time, each stopper strap 89 is screwed to the side wall 71 cby shared use of the first screw 74 for securing the side wall 71 c tothe instrument panel 60.

In assembling the glove box device 70, the lid mounting frame 71 isfirst fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion 70 aof the glove box 70, and the positioning piece 76 of the lid 73 iscaused to abut against the positioning wall 75 of the instrument panel60. Thus, a mounting position of the lid mounting frame 71 in vertical,lateral and depth directions is precisely and easily determined. Then,the upper wall 71 a of the lid 73 is secured to the instrument panel 60by the first screws 74, and the first hinge arm 72 a of the hinge 72 isplaced over the positioning piece 76 and is secured to the positioningwall 75 by the second screws 77.

Then, the seal member 79 is bonded to the flange portion 71 d of the lidmounting frame 71 and the positioning piece 76 to cover the secondscrews 77, and then the lid 73 is secured to the second hinge arm 72 bof the hinge 72 by the third screws 78.

Thus, the lid mounting frame 71 is fitted to the inner peripheralsurface of the opening portion 70 a of the glove box 70, and is thusrestricted in vertical and lateral movements by the inner peripheralsurface of the opening portion 70 a of the glove box 70. Therefore, thelid mounting frame 71 can be secured to the instrument panel 60 by arelatively small number of first and second screws 74 and 77.

The positioning piece 76 continuously connected to the lower wall 71 bof the lid mounting frame 71 abuts against the positioning wall 75 ofthe instrument panel 60 to restrict the position of the depth directionof the lid mounting frame 71, and also supports the first hinge arm 72 aof the hinge 72, thereby simplifying a structure. At this time, thefirst hinge arm 72 a is secured to the instrument panel 60 by the sharedsecond screws 77 so as to hold the positioning piece 76 narrowly betweenthe first hinge arm 72 a and the positioning wall 75. This eliminatesthe need for a special securing member for mounting the hinge 72 to theinstrument panel 60, thereby further simplifying the structure.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of a glove box device 70. In thisembodiment, an auxiliary box 85 that can house documents or the like anda cup holder 88 used in a horizontally opened state of a lid 73 areprovided on a back surface of the lid 73. The cup holder 88 has a cupholding hole 88 a that can hold a cup or the like. Also in this case,the lid 73 is also used as a bottom wall of the cup holder 88.

To restrict a horizontally opened position of the lid 73, stopper pins86 are provided to protrude on left and right outer surfaces of theglove box 70, and arcuate guide grooves 87 with which the stopper pins86 slidably engage are formed in the lid mounting frame 71. Thus, thestopper pins 86 abut against end walls of the guide grooves 87 torestrict the horizontally opened position of the lid 73.

Other configurations are the same as in the former embodiment, thus inFIG. 13, components corresponding to those in the former embodiment aredenoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptionswill be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 14, and 25 to 27, to the left and right reinforcementstays 105, head rests 130 corresponding to the left and right seats 18 aand 18 b, and a console bag 131 placed in the intermediate portionbetween the left and right seats 18 a and 18 b are removably mounted.The console bag 131 includes a bag body 132 having an opened frontsurface opened long in a vertical direction, and a lid member 133connected to a lower end of the front surface of the bag body 132 so asto be openable forward, and a fastener 134 for opening and closing thelid member 133 is provided between the bag body 132 and the lid member133. The bag body 132 can house drink bottles 135 or the like, and thelid member 133 is connected to the bag body 132 by stopper belts 136 soas to hold a horizontal position in the opened state. Thus, the lidmember 133 functions as a table in the opened state.

A plurality of belts 137 with hook and loop fasteners are sewn to a backsurface of the bag body 132. The belts 137 are wound around the left andright reinforcement stays 105, and thus the console bag 131 is supportedby the reinforcement stays 105. On an upper end surface of the bag body132, a handle 138 is provided that can remove the console bag 131 fromthe reinforcement stays 105 and carry the console bag 131.

Returning to FIG. 9, a floor mat 140 is placed on a floor 139 of thecabin 17. The floor mat 140 is made of rubber and formed into a shapecorresponding to the shape of the floor 139, and a number of anti-slipprotrusions 141 are formed on an upper surface of the floor mat 140. Onan upper surface at a peripheral edge portion of the floor mat 140,anti-slip and reinforcement ribs 142 are formed, and drain notches 143are provided in the ribs 142 at front, rear, left and right corners inthe floor mat 140. Thus, even if the floor mat 140 is wet with rainwateror the like, drain from the notches 143 can facilitate drying of thefloor mat 140. As shown in FIG. 28, the floor 139 is secured to thefloor 139 by fastener members such as push turn rivets 144 or the likeat a plurality of positions on the ribs 142.

In FIGS. 9 and 30, on the left and right of the rear portion of thevehicle body 11, rear fenders 145 are provided that are placed to becontinuously connected to the rear portion of the loading platform 30 inthe normal position and cover the rear wheels 15 on the respectivesides. On a back surface of each rear fender 145, a stop lamp 146 thatlights according to a brake operation of the truck 10 is mounted. To arear end of the frame 11F of the vehicle body 11, a rear bumper 147formed of a steel pipe is mounted. At left and right ends of the rearbumper 147, overhanging portions 147 a overhanging behind the rearfenders 145 and below the stop lamps 146 are formed so as to protect therear fenders 145 and the stop lamps 146 from rear obstacles.

To the rear end portion of each rear fender 145, an upper end portion ofa mudguard plate 148 made of rubber and covering a rear surface of therear wheel 15 is mounted by bolts 149 and nuts 150. An intermediateportion of the mudguard plate 148 is secured to a lower surface side ofthe overhanging portion 147 a of the rear bumper 147 by bolts 151. Thus,the mudguard plate 148 having a front end supported by the rear fender145 is supported at the intermediate portion by the overhanging portion147 a of the rear bumper 147 placed behind the rear fender 145, and isthus sufficiently displaced rearward of the rear wheel 15. This ensuresa sufficient distance between the rear wheel 15 and the mudguard plate148, and allows dispersed mud from the rear wheel 15 to be effectivelyreceived by the mudguard plate 148.

The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments,and various design choices may be made without departing from the gistof the invention.

For example, in the glove box device 70, the tubular lid mounting frame71 may be made of either metal or synthetic resin, and may be made bymolding of two vertically or laterally divided parts.

The positioning piece 76 may be formed separately from the lid mountingframe 71, and joined to the lid mounting frame 71.

The positioning piece 76 may be continuously connected to the lidmounting frame 71 at one vertical or lateral side edge portion of thelid mounting frame 71 or an entire peripheral edge portion thereof.

The lid 73 may be made of either metal or synthetic resin. To an innersurface of the lid 73, a functional material such as a sound-proof linermay be attached. A known lid of a glove box may be, of course, used asthe lid 73.

The hinge 72 may be a hinge which is long along a rotation axis,generally called a piano hinge, a combination of a plurality of hinges,or a hinge joined to the positioning piece 76 a or the lid 73 made ofsynthetic resin by insert molding.

The lock means 80 may include a lock mechanism using a key, or means forsimply holding a closed state of the lid 73 using elastic engagementbetween members, friction between members, a magnetic force of a magnet,or a fastener.

1. A lid apparatus of a vehicle comprising: a tubular lid mounting frameconfigured to be abutted on and along an inner periphery of an openingprovided on an interior member of the vehicle; a lid that covers andcloses one side of the lid mounting frame and the opening; a hinge whichsupports the lid from a closed state to an open state relative to theone side of the lid mounting frame; securing means which secures the lidmounting frame to the inner periphery of the opening; and a positioningpiece which is continuously formed with respect to the lid mountingframe and which abuts against the interior member at a peripheral edgeof the opening.
 2. The lid apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesecuring means is at least one screw, and wherein the hinge andpositioning piece are secured to the interior member with at least onescrew.
 3. The lid apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the interiormember includes an instrument panel with a glove box formed therein, theopening defining a portion of the glove box and opens on the instrumentpanel, wherein the hinge includes a first hinge arm secured to thepositioning piece, and wherein a positioning wall and the first hingearm are secured to each other by a securing member.
 4. The lid apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the lid includes a cover portion thatcovers the positioning piece and the hinge.
 5. The lid apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein a seal member is provided on a frontsurface of a lid mounting frame so as to cover the securing member. 6.The lid apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sealmember attached on a side of the frame abutting the lid; and lock meansthat keeps the lid in the closed state so as to bring the lid and theframe into tight contact.
 7. The lid apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the lid mounting frame comprises at least one side wall and aflange, the at least one side wall extending parallel relative to theinner periphery of the opening, and the flange extending from an edge ofthe at least one side wall in a direction away from the inner peripheryand into the opening.